Why confusion is the burning issue for smokers in our trade

Sponsored article: We all know that burnt offerings are not the result we are after when it comes to serving our customers. A significant number of dishes get sent back to the kitchen if food is charred. Most customers will ask for a replacement coffee if it tastes burnt. Burning isn't a great thing for our industry or our sanity.

The thing is, burning in general is a bad thing. What positive things can you think of to associate with burning? Burnt toast – gross. Burn marks from the oven – not fun. From King Alfred to Medieval witches, burning rarely ends on a positive note.

But have you ever stopped to consider that there is a type of burning – which thousands of people in our industry do every day – that causes harm to themselves and those around them?

In 2020, around one in four (23.4%) people in routine and manual occupations smoked. In England, the gap in smoking prevalence between those in routine and manual occupations (for example, as bar staff) and those in other occupations has widened significantly since 2012.

While many of us are aware that smoking is bad, too few understand that the main problem with cigarette smoking is the burning and the smoke itself.

When an adult smoker puts a cigarette in their mouth and sets fire to it, they are burning tobacco to temperatures above 900°C. This process produces smoke that contains over 6,000 chemicals, of which about 100 have been identified as causes or potential causes of smoking-related diseases.

The best decision any smoker can make is to quit cigarettes and nicotine altogether. Unfortunately, many smokers can't or won't quit – and they could benefit from switching to something less harmful. But how do smokers choose a better smoke-free alternative if access to accurate information is limited, or even restricted? Are smokers able to make informed decisions that help them abandon cigarettes without understanding the problem with burning tobacco? And without the known facts, are smokers at risk of continued smoking if they're confused about the choices available to them?

To achieve a smoke-free future, adult smokers must be made aware of the problem with burning tobacco. Understanding the facts can help them make an informed decision that could see them abandon cigarettes for good.

To get the facts, visit www.smokefreefuture.co.uk/thefacts.